Near termMEETING schedule at NEW Western Fair location- July14th & 28th, Aug11th. It costs nothing to send an eCOG to a friend/prospective member/neighbour. Please advise Keith of names/contact info.
Have a suggestion for an eCOG-Bulletin article/story, please let Keith know.
Membership dues covering the period from July 1st to December 31st are due. Please e-transfer funds to Sandy or if credit card processing preferred Square/tap option available, see Sandy at the registration desk.
Welcome to 2025 & the new location. Our meetings will continue to be on the second and fourth Monday of the month at the same time. We will meet at the Western Fairgrounds in the GROVE MEETING ROOM #1. The meeting costs are $25.00 per person and will be a self-serve light buffet. The meeting room will be open from 11:30 AM for fellowship, and the buffet will also be available. So, please plan on arriving no later than 11:45 AM so you have time to serve yourself and find a table. Our business meeting will start at noon. We will endeavor to end the meeting by 1:00 PM. As usual, we were hoping you could register for this meeting. The Registration Link will close at NOON June 20th so we can advise The Western Fair regarding numbers. Please register as soon as possible but be sure to register before noon Friday. If you are registering yourself or any guests. Please make sure you pay for the lunch, as the Club will get charged for the meal by The Grove regardless of your attendance. After registering, please arrange to e-transfer your payment to The Rotary Club of London at sronson55@gmail.com. Also, be sure to put who you are paying for in your memo section on the e-transfer so that Sandy Ronson can track payments.
Our guest speaker is Pam Tobin. Pam is the CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services. Leading the largest CMHA branch in Ontario, she is responsible for advancing priorities such as supportive housing, Indigenous mental wellness, and improving access to programs and services to all individuals wherever they are in their journey to wellness. Pam has over 25 years of strategic leadership experience in community health and wellness, program design and implementation. Prior to joining CMHA, she was the CEO, Oneida Nation of the Thames where she negotiated with all levels of government to secure funding for clean drinking water, public safety, and enhancing program and service delivery. In 2023, she was awarded the London Leading Women Leading Girls Award for exceptional leadership that improves the lives of others. Additional awards include Change Maker of the Year and Impact Awards (2018) awarded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer for successfully leading change management in the organization and for developing and implementing cultural awareness training for all staff.
--Club members attend Wildbots thank you event--
From Rick Coates…. Last evening Lynn and I and President Kirk and his wife Barb attended the Westminster Wildbots Sponsor appreciation dinner. It was a wonderful event. The students/team prepared all of the meal (food was delicious) and then Sponsors were given thanks and mementos for their support. The team succeeded in qualifying to go to the provincial level events due to the amount of funding provided by sponsors this year that enabled the team to build their robot with better features and equipment. Jenniver Levy, their school Teacher Mentor says the team is growing with more students wanting to join the team. Success breads success with the team now up to 40 students. These are students who will no doubt become future engineers and/or computer specialists. This is a great youth program that we support as it features team dynamics, STEM (Science, Technology and Engineering) and collaborative skills development.
--Club approves three projects for a total of $75,000 in Community Project Grants--
At its May 12, 2025 meeting members approved funding for three meaningful projects with$75,000 in total funding, these projects reflect our deep commitment to health, education, and housing. Project Summaries: TVCC: A $25,000 grant will fund a MEDIT i900 scanner to improve dental diagnostics for children with craniofacial differences. London Public Library: Another $25,000 will install outdoor musical instruments in the new Rotary Reading Garden. Oneida Nation of the Thames: A final $25,000 will help build a temporary family shelter for a family awaiting their affordable home, in collaboration with the Imagine Build Committee and Fanshawe College. Club President Kirk Patterson said “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. I’d like to thank our Local Service Committee (LSC), under the leadership of Don Stevens, for guiding these three proposals to a magical conclusion. Thank you — and once again, congratulations to all of you for creating the Magic of Rotary in London.
--YOUTH EXCHANGE LETTTER--
May Newsletter Bonjour de France! How do I have to do this letter already? I just finished May and June is my last month here, where did all the time go? At least this month was great, I enjoyed new experiences, seeing friends, and appreciating all the things I have here. Like most newsletters, this one is filled with tons of adventures and good times. This month, I had the opportunity to experience a special event in Reims, France. Luminescence is a light and sound show projected inside historic cathedrals in France; it blends music, storytelling, and a crazy awesome looking light show to bring the architecture and history to life. The cathedral chosen changes every event, this year the Reims cathedral, near my town was chosen and I was lucky enough to experience one of the fanciest light shows ever. Trains here are great! I love how convenient they are. Recently a Marvel movie was released in theaters. I REALLY wanted to see this movie, yet I thought it was impossible because Marvel movies are only out for 2 weeks in France, and I didn't have anyone who wanted to see it or would take me to a theater. Luckily my awesome host family said I could take a train; after that it was simple, I found a time, a theater and bought some popcorn. While I have taken a train many times I think this is the first time I truly stopped to realise and appreciate how much freedom they have given me throughout my exchange. Recently, I was able to visit an American Rotary friend in Belgium! While I have been to the border of Belgium many times for quick visits, this was the first time I have had the chance to see some cities. I first went to Brussels and saw the famous Manneken Pis, Jeanneke Pis (made after Manneken Pis, the girl version of the state), and The Atomium. After I spent the day with my friend in her city of Mons, the city has an amazing and interesting history with the famous Doudou at the Mons Carnival. It was great to have a glimpse of someone else's exchange and their learned culture. Unfortunately, we can't agree on how to do the bisous or how to say certain words. Exchange ending this soon scares me a little, but I understand that it's almost time. I do what I can every day left and just continue to make sure I'm enjoying my time here, doing what I wish to do and soon, packing up. Georgie Street
Weekly Coffee Klatch
Weekly ZOOM “Coffee Klatch” each Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Bring your own coffee of course.
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Our guest speaker is Pam Tobin. Pam is the CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services. Leading the largest CMHA branch in Ontario, she is responsible for advancing priorities such as supportive housing, Indigenous mental wellness, and improving access to programs and services to all individuals wherever they are in their journey to wellness. Pam has over 25 years of strategic leadership experience in community health and wellness, program design and implementation. Prior to joining CMHA, she was the CEO, Oneida Nation of the Thames where she negotiated with all levels of government to secure funding for clean drinking water, public safety, and enhancing program and service delivery. In 2023, she was awarded the London Leading Women Leading Girls Award for exceptional leadership that improves the lives of others. Additional awards include Change Maker of the Year and Impact Awards (2018) awarded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer for successfully leading change management in the organization and for developing and implementing cultural awareness training for all staff. 
From Rick Coates…. Last evening Lynn and I and President Kirk and his wife Barb attended the Westminster Wildbots Sponsor appreciation dinner. It was a wonderful event. The students/team prepared all of the meal (food was delicious) and then Sponsors were given thanks and mementos for their support. The team succeeded in qualifying to go to the provincial level events due to the amount of funding provided by sponsors this year that enabled the team to build their robot with better features and equipment. Jenniver Levy, their school Teacher Mentor says the team is growing with more students wanting to join the team. Success breads success with the team now up to 40 students. These are students who will no doubt become future engineers and/or computer specialists. This is a great youth program that we support as it features team dynamics, STEM (Science, Technology and Engineering) and collaborative skills development.
